So, I'm totally intrigued by the off-center fireplace. It's really cool! How about white tile for the hearth with bench pads in a fifties fabric? I saw a cool fireplace on The Designer Pad website under mid-century modern. It's a neat blog with cool retro design ideas. Just a suggestion, you guys are killing it there! It looks awesome!

Jennifer, if you look at the two photos I posted on my blog 1/31/13, you will see a very much 70s house. I'm keeping it that way for now, but I like what you are doing with yours. I definitely approve of the fireplace fix. I would like to tear ours out completely and just have a wall with bookcases there. We don't use our fireplace as I am terrified of fire.